virtually disappeared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually disappeared" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has almost completely gone or is no longer present, but not entirely. Example: "After the new policy was implemented, the previous issues with customer complaints virtually disappeared."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unemployment virtually disappeared.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Madsen place had virtually disappeared.

The New York Times - Science

Voter apathy has virtually disappeared overnight.

The New York Times

Decent jobs for low-skilled workers have virtually disappeared.

The New York Times

That is because Giants turnovers have virtually disappeared.

The New York Times - Sports

The Cossacks virtually disappeared as a significant organized force.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Forced into hiding, Spanish-Jewish cuisine virtually disappeared.

The New York Times - Food

Until "RockPolitik", satire had virtually disappeared from Italian screens.

The Economist

The original Trinidadian Indian inhabitants had by then virtually disappeared.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But, after the Second World War, Japanese modernism virtually disappeared.

The New Yorker

Music education has virtually disappeared from public schools.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually disappeared" to describe situations where something is almost completely gone, but there's a slight chance it might still exist or reappear. Avoid using it when something is definitively and completely gone.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually disappeared" when the disappearance is absolute and confirmed. Instead, use stronger terms like "completely disappeared" or "eradicated" for situations where there's no ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually disappeared" functions as a modifier indicating that something has almost completely ceased to exist or be apparent. This phrasal verb construction utilizes "virtually" as an adverb to soften the absolute nature of "disappeared", suggesting near-total absence. Ludwig's examples illustrate its broad applicability across various subjects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Encyclopedias

18%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "virtually disappeared" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that has almost completely ceased to exist. As confirmed by Ludwig, its use spans across various contexts from news and media to encyclopedias and scientific publications. While it indicates a near-total absence, it's important to remember that "virtually" implies a slight possibility of reappearance or a remaining trace. When a complete and confirmed disappearance is intended, stronger terms should be employed. Alternatives like "virtually vanished" and "largely disappeared" offer similar nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually vanished

Similar to "virtually disappeared", but can also imply a sudden or mysterious disappearance.

substantially disappeared

Implies a considerable reduction in visibility or existence, slightly emphasizing the degree of reduction.

largely disappeared

Indicates a significant portion has disappeared, similar to "virtually", but with a slightly different emphasis.

virtually gone

A simpler, more direct way of saying something is almost entirely absent.

actually disappeared

Suggests a complete disappearance, where "virtually" implies almost but not quite.

virtually faded away

Implies a gradual decline in visibility or importance.

virtually displaced

Focuses on the replacement aspect, where something has been almost entirely taken over by something else.

virtually died out

Used for populations, species, or trends that have almost entirely ceased to exist.

virtually disbanded

Specifically applies to groups or organizations that have almost entirely ceased to operate.

virtually dissolved

Suggests a gradual disappearance, as if something has broken down or disintegrated.

FAQs

How can I use "virtually disappeared" in a sentence?

You can use "virtually disappeared" to describe something that has almost completely gone or is no longer present. For example: "After the new policy was implemented, the previous issues with customer complaints virtually disappeared."

What can I say instead of "virtually disappeared"?

You can use alternatives like "virtually vanished", "largely disappeared", or "virtually gone" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "virtually disappeared" or "completely disappeared"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "Virtually disappeared" implies something is almost entirely gone, while "completely disappeared" means it is entirely gone.

What's the difference between "virtually disappeared" and "nearly disappeared"?

"Virtually disappeared" suggests a state that is so close to disappearing that it is as good as disappeared. "Nearly disappeared" simply means that something has come close to disappearing, but may still be present in a noticeable way.